FG tasked over disregard for Sheikh Zakzaky court orders

Summary
Access to Justice, AJ, yesterday tasked the Federal Government on the implications of her failure to implement Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky court orders, saying such a step could lead to anarchy.

In a briefing addressed in Lagos by its Deputy Director, Dr. Adenike Ayedun, AJ argued that failure to obey court orders, especially the ones affecting the fundamental human right of some Nigerians could endanger democracy and the rule of law, Vanguardngr reported.

Specifically, the body expressed a surprise for “willful disregard of the rule of law by continuing to detain the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky since December 14”, and the detention of Nnamdi Kanu and others who were granted bail by the Federal High Court.

It argued, “No government that avows respect for the Constitution and human liberty can afford to behave in this audacious and autocratic manner.

The prominent cleric and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2115, after deadly clashes between the supporters of the IMN movement and Nigerian troops.

Nearly 350 members of the Shia movement were killed in the clashes. The sheikh was brutally injured and his house was reportedly destroyed by the army in the incident.

The judge said he had given 45 days for authorities to provide new accommodation for the Zakzaky family. The accommodation is to be in the town of Zaria, Kaduna state, where the family were detained, or in other parts of the state or alternatively any other part of northern Nigeria.

Kolawole said the State Security Service would pay each of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife $78,984 in compensation for the violation of their rights by being held in unlawful custody for nearly a year.

Nearly 100 IMN supporters were killed when Nigerian forces fired live rounds and tear gas at mourners during a peaceful march ahead of the Arbaeen mourning rituals, which mark 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam. Authorities also destroyed a number of buildings belonging to the IMN.

The Nigerian government has stepped up its crackdown on the IMN since the December 2015 deadly incident.